The Irish standard., 1887-02-26
SIGNS AND oMENS.
Superstitious Beliefs of the People o
Delaware and Maryland.

superstitious Beliefs of the People of
Delaware and Maryland.
A belief in the supernatural and in
the forecasting of events by the signi-
fcation of signs and omens is not, es is
generally supposed, restricted entirely
to the negro race Of the Maryland and
Delaware peninsula, Superstition is
prevalent to a considerable degree
among the whites, and it is curious that
in many families where wealth and in
telligence predominant an implicit be-
lief is put in signs and tokens and what
they portend They are sincere i'll this
belief and will cite numerous instances
where a mysterious knock upon the
door, startling rafting Of u window
sash when the air was calm and serene,
or the dismal bowling Of a dog have
been followed by "bad luck, =" to give
apparent strength to it.
Among the white laboring classes
superstition holds their minds with q
wonderful power. Any strange phe-
nomencn in the heavens, any abnormal
condition of the weather, OF any un-
usual commotion OH land OF sea-each
has it's own special significance, and,
while they all exercise an undue in
tiuence upon the minds Of these people.
each one formulates his or her own
opinion and draws personal conc]u-
sions as to the probable sequence OF
these signs. A lady venerable in
years. prominent in society, living in
affluence and residing in 9. aryland
town, once dismissed a most dear and
intimate acquaintance with a severe
reprimand for trenching upon her ideas
with regard to this belief. The sub
ject of superstition was under discus
sion, and large circle of friends were
present. The lady friend was ridicnl-
ing such belief as preposterous and
ignorant, and it was commented
upon adversely by several other men,
bers of the company. But the hostess
was invulnerable to their attacks and
humorous puns. and good-naturedly
rebutted them by several incidents
that had occurred which were il fresh
recollection by all present, and Incl
dentally mentioned her horror Of q per-
son looking over her shoulder, while
she was standing before looking
glass. The evening wore on, and
when the company began to disperse
the hostess arose to arrange her hair
before small toilet looking-glass.
Her friend came up behind her sudden
~, and peered over her shoulder. A
remarkable tableau ensued. With
b}anched features, the hostess threw
up her hands, and with a wild shriek,
fell swooning to the door. The proper
restoratives were rcsorted to, and when
she recovered consciousness she arose
to her feet, nervous and ti1norous.
Pointing her finger at her heretofore
bosom friend, she said in g. firm, deter
mined voice:
1--WE are friends no longer. Go!''
Expostulation was utterly useless;
she would listen to no explanation, and
with q wounded heart. and her face
bathed in tears, the lady took her de-
parture. This occurred twenty years
ago. They have never exchanged
words since. BY strange coincidence
of circumstances a month or SO after
ward intelligence Of the death of the
only brother of the hostess, who was in
india, was received. .....
There is to-day living in Lower Della
ware an old gentleman, once conspicu-
Gus in public life, who constantly keeps
his gun charged with the old-fashioned
silver thrce-cent pieces, who has an inn
plicit belief in their virtue to destroy
the power OF negro conjurors when
fired at them. There are several more
who keep their revolvers loaded with
the same metal for the same purpose.
Why the an1ihilating qualities Of
silver are more superior to lead
or gold they are unable to explain.
Yet they are profoundly sincerein their
belief that volley Of the jingling metal
fired at, not into, the body Of a con-
Juror will dissolve his mysterious power
and prevent him from committing
harm.
In some parts Of Maryland the people
will not have the home-leek--a small
green plant bearing a pink flower
upon their premises. This plant blooms,
according to their theory, but once in
seven years, and, should one of them
be in or near the house at the time of
bloc ming, when the tiny buds begin to
develop, some will be taken sick, and
as it continues to expand they will
grow worse. and when it has bloomed
into the perfect flower they will die.
Another superstition characteristic OF
this ostracised plant is that SO long as
anv one carries leaf about with him
adversely will be close at his HEELS
Philadelphia Times.
His Means Of Support.
Smith-Dusenberry has left for
Europe.
Jones-What Dusenberry are you
talking about?